Genzyme Expanding In Belgium
Genzyme Corp., the Cambridge-based biotech giant with operations in Central Massachusetts, will build a new manufacturing plant in Belgium to produce Myozyme and Lumizyme drugs for Pompe disease, adding about 150 jobs.
Genzyme already produces the two drugs, which are essentially identical, at another plant in Geel, Belgium, the same city where the new plant is planned. Its production capacity there is set to increase to 12,000 liters by the end of this year. The new plant will include 8,000 liters of production capacity, along with room for future expansion.
The new plant will bring the company's employment in Geel to almost 600.
The company also has 160 liters of production capacity for the drugs in the U.S., where the FDA limits production to 160-liter bioreactors. It is currently waiting on F.D.A. approval to use 2,000-liter bioreactors in the U.S. as it does in Europe.
The company said commercial approvals for the site should start in late 2014.
In September, the company said it was reducing its global workforce by 1,000. It is now in negotiations over its possible acquisition by French drug maker Sanofi-Aventis SA.
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